October 2024
Meet the PAAV team
Dr. Frew
Dr. Frew is a family physician who is founder and director of Yenoh Merkeb (Noah's Arc) an NGO which reaches out to the marginalized and the poor. In 2006, Living Word Community Church invited him to partner with them in developing Project Adopt A Village (PAAV). He eagerly accepted the invitation and that began this long-term relationship to serve the poor and needy in Sendafa, Ethiopia. He is an extremely compassionate man with a passion and longing for helping those in need.
Eshete
Eshete has been with the PAAV team from the start. He has a master's degree in accounting and finance and manages the financial aspects of PAAV. He has primary oversight of the Income Generating Activities (IGAs). This includes providing funds for starting a job or business. He then incorporates job training and finance teaching and accountability for the beneficiaries. His organizational skills are commendable.
Birhanu
Birhanu has also been with PAAV since the beginning. He has a diploma in construction. His duties include oversight of construction projects, selecting beneficiaries in need of help, making home visits to HIV patients and poor families, providing nutritional support to children and HIV patients and multiple other aspects of community work. His behind-the-scenes efforts are immense.
Dawit
Dawit is a lawyer who has an additional master's degree in Developmental Studies. At the age of 10 he began volunteering as an interpreter during the annual medical camps. After completing law school, he spent 2 years in the practice of law in Addis Ababa before he shifted his expertise to work full time for PAAV in 2019. He functions as the projects coordinator and is assuming more and more leadership responsibilities for PAAV. His interpersonal skills and general knowledge base are invaluable additions to the team.
Seble
Seble, a community health worker, regularly volunteered beginning in 2012 and then became a part of the PAAV team in 2021. Her key roles include providing in-home nursing care to HIV patients and others that are homebound, selecting beneficiaries who are with great needs, delivering nutritional support to children and HIV patients and other aspects of community outreach. Her compassionate interactions with the patients served are appreciated by all.
Salem
Salem, the most recent addition to the team, began volunteering during the medical campaigns when she was young. This motivated her to become a health officer (the Ethiopian equivalent of a nurse practitioner). She works 2 days a week treating patients in the primary care clinic with Dr. Frew, teaches various topics on individual and public health and wellness to the community, and provides nutritional support to children and HIV patients. She infuses youth into the team and her emphasis on education of the community is commendable.
These six individuals work tirelessly together and support each other in the various areas of focus: medical care, public health, educational enhancement, economic development and encouragement for the local church. They truly work as a team. They have developed tremendous respect and admiration from the patients and beneficiaries who they serve. Additionally, they continue to receive accolades from local and regional authorities for the excellent work that they do. They are bonded together by their mutual desire to help others, their strong friendship and their motivational faith.
